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world news Diasabra 14 November 2020

Cyprus, Israel, Greece agree to boost defense cooperation

(AP) — The defense min- forged close ties amid re- broiled in a dispute with Tur-
isters of Greece, Israel and gional tension in the Eastern key which has sent gas pros-
Cyprus agreed Thursday Mediterranean over offshore pecting vessels into waters
to step up military coop- gas exploitation rights, and claimed by Greece and drill-
eration they said will keep are partners in a project to ing ships into an area where
their armed forces bet- bring gas from fields in Israeli Cyprus claims exclusive
ter prepared, help create and potentially other nations' rights. The tension brought
more jobs and bolster se- waters through an undersea NATO allies Greece and
curity in a fraught region. pipeline to Europe's main- Turkey close to open conflict
land. in the summer and autumn
Israeli Defense Minister Ben- Greece's Nikolaos Panagi- but has since subsided.
ny Gantz said it was agreed otopoulos said Greek, Israeli
during talks in Nicosia to and Cypriot armed forces are Turkey insists that it’s fully
“promote large-scale indus- working to operate together within its rights to carry out
try cooperation that will bol- more effectively through such prospecting in those
ster our defense abilities and joint training programs, in- Charalambos Petrides said presence in the eastern Medi- waters. It also claims to de-
create thousands of jobs for telligence sharing and cyber- the three countries are look- terranean the Greek minister fend the rights of breakaway
all three economies.” security. ing to expand their partner- said “is of particular impor- Turkish Cypriots to energy
ship to include other coun- tance” for regional stability. reserves around war-divided
The three countries have Panagiotopoulos and Cyprus’ tries such as the U.S. whose Greece and Cyprus are em- Cyprus.

2 Oklahoma lawmakers confirm positive tests for coronavirus

(AP) — Two members three months even for people senators and three House
of the Oklahoma House who had a mild case of CO- members previously con-
of Representatives con- VID-19, but there's still a lot firmed positive tests. Okla-
firmed Friday they have about the coronavirus that homa Republican Gov. Kevin
tested positive for the scientists don't know. Stitt in July became the first
coronavirus, just days af- House Democratic leader governor nationwide known
ter a swearing-in ceremo- Rep. Emily Virgin said all of to have tested positive.
ny at the Capitol in which the House Democrats wore
many lawmakers and their masks during Wednesday's The Senate on Friday an-
families weren't wearing events and she's disappointed nounced it was canceling its
masks or practicing social that some of her Republi- ceremonial swearing-in that
distancing. can colleagues won't follow was scheduled for Monday at
guidelines recommended by the Oklahoma History Cen-
Republican state Reps. Kev- health officials. ter and limiting attendance at
in Wallace of Wellston and “As legislators, I feel like it’s the official swearing-in inside
Tammy Townley of Ardmore our duty to set a good ex- the Senate chamber.
both confirmed in statements lace said in a statement. “I am summer and said she had ample. Instead, some of my
to The Associated Press that still asymptomatic and quar- “zero reason" to believe she colleagues continue this nar- Outbreaks at other state leg-
they have tested positive. antining." was a transmission risk. rative that wearing masks is islatures have caused cancel-
some kind of political state- lations or delays of legislative
Wallace said he tested positive Townley tested positive af- “I was very surprised to have ment, when that is a very work, including in Mississip-
before Wednesday's swear- ter participating in the cer- a positive result, given my dangerous narrative for them pi, where dozens of lawmak-
ing-in ceremony and took his emony, during which many prior positive test for anti- to continue," she said. ers tested positive, California
oath privately, without any members and their families bodies," she said. “I immedi- and Michigan.
other members present. didn’t wear masks and vio- ately notified House leader- Wallace and Townley are the At least 173 legislators in 40
lated social distancing guide- ship and am participating in sixth and seventh state law- states have contracted coro-
“The Oklahoma State De- lines. Townley said she had contact tracing efforts." makers to confirm publicly navirus, including four who
partment of Health has been previously tested positive for There’s evidence that rein- they have tested positive for have died, according to a tally
working on trace back," Wal- COVID-19 antibodies this fection is unlikely for at least the coronavirus. Two state by The Associated Press.

Suspected French church attacker carried killer's photo

(AP) — The suspected that described France as a been unable to interview the
Tunisian assailant in an “country of unbelievers" and suspected church attacker,
Islamic extremist knife at- photos relating to the Islamic previously identified as Ibra-
tack that killed three peo- State group, the national an- him Issaoui, because he re-
ple in a French church had ti-terror prosecutors' office mains in serious condition
a photograph in one of his said. in a Paris-region hospital,
cellphones of the perpe- the prosecutors' office said a
trator of another attack The prosecutors' office said statement. He suffered life-
that shocked France: the one of the photos showed threatening wounds during
killing of a schoolteacher Abdoullakh Anzorov, the his arrest. He has also tested
who was beheaded after Chechen refugee identified positive for the coronavirus,
he showed caricatures of as the killer of teacher Samuel the statement said.
the prophet of Islam to his Paty. Paty was beheaded Oct.
class, anti-terror prosecu- 16 outside his Paris-region The prosecutors' office said it
tors said Friday. school after showing carica- opened a formal investigation
tures of the Prophet Muham- Friday on terrorism charges
Also found in the phones of mad during a class debate on that will enable investiga-
the 21-year-old arrested after free expression. tors to keep probing whether Tunisia or Italy. He traveled fore the attack in the Medi-
the Oct. 29 church attack in the suspected attacker had through Italy before reaching terranean city's Notre Dame
Nice was an audio message But investigators have as yet any accomplices in France, Nice less than 48 hours be- Basilica.